Shock at World Chess Olympiad as Croat Defeats World Champion

There has been a shock upset at the 41st World Chess Olympiad in Tromsø, Norway on Tuesday, after Croatian Ivan Šarić beat the world number one…

Billed as the world’s 4th largest sporting event, Norway’s Prime Minister Erna Solberg opening proceedings and made the first move for Norway’s world chess champion MagnusCarlsen in his match with Croatian underdog Šarić. The reigning world champion suffered a shock loss to the young Split player, who has won a number of tournaments in the build up to the World Olympiad.

“I overlooked simple things. Neither creativity nor any of the simple things are there for me right now. It’s not good,” Carlsen told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK), adding that he didn’t think he should have played on Tuesday, but since Norway were up against a strong nation like Croatia, he played anyway.